Russell Lakes SWA Dispersed Camping

Beautiful spot to stop in for one night although you can stay longer. Nice flat gravel area with bathrooms and trash, very clean. Surrounded by views of the mountains! I would’ve given five stars except for the fact that it’s right off the highway so you have to deal with traffic noise. All in all, for free, so perfect!

One night camping. Overnight camping allowed in self-contained units. It is close to the highway so there is road noise but also coyotes! I had the place to myself. In the morning I walked the nature trail and saw two white pelicans, coots, ducks, herons, egrets,yellow headed blackbirds and a white faced ibis!

Perfect for a one night stop over. 2 miles off of 285. The access road is gravel but it is tight packed and easy to drive. Parking lot is huge and very flat. No need to level our trailer. Entrance to the parking lot is NARROW (probably about 9 feet wide) so be careful.

We stayed one night (weekday in October) and enjoyed beautiful sunset views and a starry night. The parking lot is surrounded by the nature preserve with mountains in the distance. Extremely quiet. We saw no one the whole time we were there (not even on the access road). Good place to walk dogs.

Heard nothing except a few coyotes later at night.

No bathrooms we could find.

Drove along US285 to coordinates and I spotted the sign to Russell Lakes State Wildlife Area. Unfortunately, it is no longer usable as a camping area. No fence, trees, toilet or trash container. Basically, it's now just a flat dirt lot. Didn't bother staying, and continued north of Saguache to one of several BLM dispersed campgrounds.

Tucked away from the highway, great cell service. Large, level parking area. Will definitely stay here again on my next pass through!

We initially went to the lot off of county road r, which is where you will go if you follow the GPS. That lot looks great but it’s closed. We ended up staying at another lot about 1 mile south on Hwy 285. This lot was very close to the highway, so we did have the traffic noise. I’m the morning, the parking lot got busier, but we were alone during the night.

I arrived after dark. Largish gravel lot. Park along the edges. Quiet despite being next to highway. Pit toilets usable although poorly maintained and no TP. No indication of fees being charged.

Had the place all to myself. Dont follow the GPS coordinates. Make a right right before the maintenance building and there is a lot on the left approx 100 yards down that access road. Gorgeous views of the mountains and fields of the preserve. Good T Mobile cell service for streaming.

Search Russel Lakes State Wildlife Area. The parking area right off 285, just north of P is the only place you can camp. It’s not bad, level, easy in easy out, and there is an outhouse, trash, and a nice trail to a viewing blind. Highway noise is present, but not that much.

You have to be looking for this east-turn off of 285 to find it. One landmark are the sudden grove of cottonwood trees in an otherwise treeless region. Flat gravel parking lot for a trailhead. Has a pit toilet building also. Fairly quiet at night-only a hundred yards from the 285. Low light pollution so good star gazing. Take time to walk the short trail.